Academic Freedom

TRANSCENDENCE @ CSU STANISLAUS: The CFA
Stanislaus chapter is co-sponsoring a conference aimed at
transgender and gender-nonconforming needs in the Central Valley
and beyond.

The conference will be held from 8:30am – 4:30pm on Friday, May
4, followed by an evening reception from 5-7:30pm at CSU
Stanislaus. The conference meets the qualifications for six hours
of continuing credit for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, or LEPs.

SAFETY HAZARDS FOUND ON ALL FOUR CSU CAMPUSES
AUDITED: California State Auditor Elaine Howle’s
audit
of safety hazards on four CSU campuses is in, and the
findings are disturbing—faulty laboratory equipment, unsafe
drinking water, asbestos and chemical spills.

“Without resolving these issues, campuses cannot ensure they are
effectively protecting students and employees against injuries
and illnesses,” wrote Howle.

None of the four CSU campuses that were examined—CSU Channel
Islands, CSU Sacramento, San Diego State, and Sonoma State—could
demonstrate that they provide students with safety training
before working in labs.

“This is a critical moment for California’s public higher
education system,” says CFA President Jennifer Eagan. “The state
has the money it would take to restore much of the damage done to
the CSU over the past decade, and everyone who knows how
important that is needs to speak up now.”

In one of California’s best fiscal years ever, it’s time to fund
the CSU. That is the message faculty and students are bringing to
CSU campuses and the Capitol where the 2018-19 State Budget is
being hammered out.

Hundreds of faculty and students around the state have RSVP’d to
go to Sacramento on April 4. And a just-released
animation explains why you should
RSVP, too.

“This is definitely an ‘if not now, when?’ moment for the CSU,”
says Kevin Wehr, CFA Secretary who is organizing for April 4
along with his CFA chapter, which is just a few miles from the
State Capitol.

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON HATE SPEECH:CFA made public comment
yesterday (October 3) at a hearing of the California State
Senate Judiciary Committee that took testimony on “Combatting
Hate While Protecting the Constitution.” Testimony came from UC
Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and representatives of
civil rights groups, the CSU administration, and law enforcement.
View the hearing on the California Channel.

The following is full text of public comment by the
California Faculty Association presented to the California State
Senate Judiciary hearing on October 3, 2017.

The California Faculty Association is committed to protecting
academic freedom, including the rights of faculty, students, and
staff to engage in debate and public protest; protests, after
all, are the oldest form of civic engagement. In fact, many of
our CSU faculty, staff, and student activists engage in peaceful
protests.

IMMIGRATION RESOURCES: We’ve updated the CFA
website to include a new page, “Immigration & the CSU.” There, you’ll find
information and resources for immigrants and those helping
members of our undocumented communities. Download and print a
“Know Your Rights” card, find links to FAQs and more: https://www.calfac.org/immigration-csu

DACA RENEWAL WORKSHOP (NORCAL): A collaboration
of city, community, and local organizations in San Francisco are
hosting a free DACA renewal
workshop from 1-5 pm Saturday, Sept. 23 at Mission High
School, 3750 18th St, San Francisco.

CFA stands in solidarity with the University of Virginia and the
city of Charlottesville in their anger and sadness over what has
been done to their campus and community in the name of white
supremacy and racism.

Three people lost their lives and many more were injured. The
city and campus communities have been done real harm and a
serious injustice, and we wish the families of those we lost,
along with the communities, hope and healing moving forward.

Following Reinstatement, CSU Faculty Calls on
University Presidents to Stand Up and Defend Academic Freedom in
Today’s Divisive Political Climate

Long Beach, CA – After an arbitrator overturned CSU Fullerton’s
decision to terminate Dr. Eric Canin following an alleged
altercation on campus, the California Faculty Association today
called on University Presidents nationwide to stand up for
academic freedom in today’s heated and divisive political
climate.

First Look: Suspended California instructor to keep his
jobPolitico
The California Faculty Association will announce today that Eric
Canin, an anthropology lecturer at California State University,
Fullerton, who got into an altercation with a group of College
Republicans during a campus demonstration in February, will keep
his job, Morning Education has learned.

In light of of 2016 ending with incidents of hate speech, hate
crimes, and violations of academic freedom, CFA Chapter
Presidents have taken a stand to uphold the free exchange of
ideas throughout the CSU system.

The California Faculty Association (CFA) is committed to
protecting academic freedom, including the rights of faculty,
students, and staff to engage in debate and public protest.

The California Faculty Association will support and defend all
members of our campus communities from racist, sexist,
nationalist, homophobic, transphobic, anti-Muslim, and
anti-Semitic attacks. CFA condemns all hate speech and hate
crimes on campus and in our surrounding communities.